Bureau of Fire Protection Deploys EMS Teams to 66 Metro Manila Cemeteries for Undas Exodus

MANILA: In preparation for the ‘Undas’ exodus, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has dispatched Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to approximately 66 cemeteries across Metro Manila.

According to a new release by Philippines News Agency, National Capital Region Assistant Director Senior Superintendent Rodrigo Reyes revealed that around 1,000 BFP personnel will be on a shifting schedule until November 2. The deployment comes as part of a directive from the bureau’s regional director, Fire Chief Superintendent Nahum Tarroza. Speaking at a weekly forum in Quezon City, Reyes explained that EMS personnel are stationed in each of these cemeteries to provide immediate assistance for cases such as fainting or high blood pressure.

For the first time, the BFP has also deployed motorcycle ambulances as part of their emergency medical services. These vehicles are stationed in different parts of Metro Manila, available 24/7, and are particularly aimed at providing rapid transport in cases of vehicular incidents.

An Emergency Operation Center has been established in Barangay Pinagkaisahan in Makati City, where office personnel of the BFP are also deployed. Reyes assured the public that all BFP personnel are highly trained; some are even registered nurses and all have undergone a series of basic rescue training.

In addition to the deployment, Reyes took the opportunity to remind the public about fire safety measures. He advised residents to switch off electricity and cooking stoves before leaving their homes to visit cemeteries. For those who wish to light candles in observance of Undas, he recommended doing so outside the home in a secure container, like a stainless steel basin filled with water.